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devilsrecreation · 16 days

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More thoughts on TLG episodes

The Savannah Summit:

First things first, major kudos to Makuu for actually being responsible and caring about what’s best for his float

You really can’t blame Kion and everyone else to be super skeptical about Makuu. I know he changed for the better, but he’s done…a lot since he beat Pua

“but to invite him to the Savannah Summit? With all these other peaceful animals?”—I hate to break it to you, Kion, but just bc an animal is an herbivore doesn’t mean they’re peaceful and friendly. If anything, it means survivor

Crocs at the Summit worked with Pua cuz everybody loves him 😎

“Makuu has more enemies than friends!”—So does Bunga lmao

The song is great. I love how everyone seems annoyed at first but near the end, it’s all 🎶Kumbaya, my lord! 🎶. Except Makuu…dude looks like he’s lowkey regretting his life choices he did NOT ask for a bs song

I’m totally on Makuu’s side. He was genuinely trying to be civil here, especially when it comes to Bupu

At least Beshte was trying to be the mediator cuz he looks at Makuu AND Bupu, Kion was just being kinda speciesist

Shut up, Bupu, you started the whole thing

Vuruga Vuruga saying “buffalo eat whatever we want” is actually pretty accurate. They, like other animals, don’t care. I read that buffalo will occasionally eat insects if it were an option. Even Twiga could sucking on a bone if she wanted to. Seriously, look it up

If Zazu had a nickel for every time a rhino used him as a chair, he’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice (great nod to the OG movie)

Rafiki is such a mood “not the official painting” you old ass gremlin/aff

I remember Athena P criticizing Simba for blaming Kion about ruining the Summit after Makuu understandably leaves and I agree. Wtf Simba he’s 10. Go easy on him, come on 😭

The part that irks me the most is that when Mufasa asks “What has Makuu done to make you think this way?”, Kion says “Nothing, really”. BRO WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘NOTHING REALLY’?! I understand Mufasa meant what Makuu has done today but there are a LOT of things Makuu’s done in the past that Kion should have told his grandpa. In fact, here’s a whole list:

-Taking over Big Springs when he became leader, resulting in all the animals to scatter

-Challenging kids to fight

-Taking over the flood plains

-Trying to eat Basi which would have been just him being a crocodile if not for the fact that the reason is so he wouldn’t have to follow any rules (says so on the wiki)

-TAKING NALA HOSTAGE (seriously did Simba even KNOW about that? Did Nala or Kion bother to tell him?)

-Generally being a dick to animals

Makuu I know you did nothing wrong in this episode, but you can’t blame Kion for acting this way

I’m not placing any blame on Mtoto. He’s a good boy and all he did was tell the guard what he heard and that’s it

Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga coming up with the trap doesn’t surprise me. Cape buffalo are actually really vengeful irl so it makes sense how she wanted to teach Makuu a lesson. They ain’t called “Black Death” or “Widow Maker” for nothing

It’s cool how Makuu took the prank well. Respect.

Wonder how Makuu felt about animals fighting over him lmao?

Let Sleeping Crocs Lie

Once again this episode would be VERY different if my oc Piga was still alive

Kiburi has a right to be mad. I’m not excusing what he does later in the episode but I’d be pissed too if someone woke me up

Okay but Nduli sleeping next to Kiburi is adorable. Adds to my hc how close they are

Serious question: Why exactly can’t the crocs go back to sleep after they’ve been woken up? The obvious answer is bc it drives the plot forward, but is it true in actual crocodiles? I kinda wanna know the scientific reason

Good on Makuu for going the pacifism route. He’d really do anything for his float

Love how Kiburi was like “Yeah yeah, whatever you say” but the second Makuu left, he was like “ANARCHY!”

Idk if any of you caught this, but when Ushari’s like “we reptiles will rule the pridelands under your leadership, right?” Scar actually hesitated before going “sure bud”. That makes me think he was going to betray Ushari the moment he and his army get rid of Simba and the Lion Guard

Crocs really DO need a lot of water, otherwise their lives are on the line. Makuu was really more concerned than upset

“KIBURI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”—Fighting a child, what’s it look like

Side hc: I like to think something similar happened with Pua, Piga, and Kujivunia. Pua saw Piga antagonizing some poor young animal and he was all “Piga! What in the Pridelands do you think you’re doing?” and Kujivunia (who happened to be there), with her typical sarcasm was like “Performing a dance number, Pua 🙄”

There go the skinks again. Njano with his cuteness and Shupavu…doing her best Grinch face

“At least you’ll be close to all your friends!”Awww Beshte trying to be positive 🥺

Kiburi saying “we crocs deserve better!” brings me back to my hc that Kiburi had good intentions (again, until further in the episode), he just went about it the wrong way. He’s almost like an activist in a way. He’s not trying to be selfish, he just wanted a better watering hole. Now going as far as to rule the Pridelands…..yeah too far

The background crocodiles who were like 😦 when Kiburi called for the mashindano are so me. I’m the one going “Ooooooh shit!”

Still not getting over that super gay conversation between Kiburi and Ushari

STILL CAN’T GET OVER HOW KIBURI AND HIS FLOAT LAUGH AAAAA (Neema’s laugh tho)

Nduli looks so derpy I love him

I LOVE HOW SELF-AWARE TAMKA IS WHAT AN ICON

Lmao Nduli just gave up like “Fuck it you win”

Love the parallels of Makuu pinning down Kiburi like he did to Pua

Kiburi, I love you but what the hell did you expect? You literally confessed to like 500 animals about your plan and then you get surprised when Simba and Makuu banish you? What did you think was gonna happen? You got way too cocky, I swear

Saying this again, Tamka and Nduli looked worried/traumatized when they were exiled

“Now you’re calling me a reptile?”—My love, you ARE a reptile. I thought crocodiles were supposed to be smart omg

Kiburi’s actually showing emotion for the first time

OMG JANJA HEY BABY HOW ARE YOU?

Full disclosure: “I have a plan” is mediocre at best. It has nothing on Be Prepared. That being said, I love Kiburi’s “Aiight I’m in” smile

That’s pretty much it. Maybe I’ll do more in the future

#just me rambling #i have too many thoughts #these are all my lighthearted opinion #the lion guard

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theacidjazzguitarist · 28 days

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Mtoto wa Tufani - Daughters of the Sandstorm

#afrofuturism #blackart #afrocentric

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araekniarchive · 2 years

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hello! may I request one based on a phrase (typically from within archeology) that goes 'the dead don't bury themselves'? thank you!

Anonymous, The Dying Cowboy/Bury Me Not

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

Fernando Fueyo‘s depiction of ‘Mtoto’, a toddler who died 78,000 years ago

Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

Brokeback Mountain (2005) dir. Ang Lee

George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The Lovers of Valdaro

Jon Pineda, My Sister, Who Died Young, Takes Up The Task

G. K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse

Jean Anouilh, Antigone (trans. Lewis Galantiere)

Riccardo Piter, Moroni Scarneo Monument, Milan (detail)

Silas Denver Melvin, nov 4 2021

Epitaph on a grave in Uckfield, East Sussex; from Tombstone Humour (x)

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australet789 · 1 year

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So remember how Simba said to Kion that there were "plenty of lions" to choose for his Guard and we never see them? I decided to change that. Here are the candidates to Kion's Guard that Simba wanted his son to pick:

Amaziah: Son of Chumvi and Kula, older than Kion but younger than Kiara. Future mate of Imara, You have already seen him here.

Babu: Son of Mega and Sabini, he is the oldest of the group and hates the Outsiders since the death of his old friend Kopa. His hatred against them is what makes him Simba's favorite to be a possible mate to Kiara in the future (Simba is against bethrotals, but doesnt mean he doesn't want someone good for his daughter). He loses his sight during Kiara's hunt (he was near the fire, checking on Kiara by Simba's orders, and it affected him). He is going to be Tazama's mate in the future after he gets a change of heart towards the Outsiders (i plan to work on this later hehe)

Jabari: The youngest, he is the son of one of Simba's cousins, Kitoto (Simba's cousins come from the story "An Unusual Choir"). His mom is the grey lioness we see at Kiara's hunt. Took inspiration from one of the cubs of Simba's Pride: Active Gameplay.

Hewa: Son of Simba's other cousin, Mtoto (comes from "An Unusual Choir" as well). He is older than Jabari and his little cousin tends to get on his nerves on purpose. Took the design from one of the the cubs from "Sarabi's says".

#the lion king #tlk #tlk fanart #the lion guard #tlg #lions #my art #pictures arts

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kaythefloppa · 10 months

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Lion Guard Finale Praise + Rant

There is a lot I hate about The Lion Guard's final episode but the one thing that will always hold a special place in my heart is the return montage:

You can't tell in screenshots, but in the background, the LG chorus sings a reprise of the Departure Theme from the premiere episode, with this montage being a book-end to the goodbyes that the Guard said to their friends and families in that episode.

It's really sweet and powerful because it's a beautiful example of "Show, don't tell" (a rule which this show, particularly in Season 3, and the LK sequels in general are not the best at following). We see what the Lion Guard had left behind when they went on their journey to the Tree of Life, how much they had missed their home and how glad they are to be back and how that feeling was reciporicated by their friends and families.

Keep in mind that earlier that morning they were under the belief that Zira invaded the Pride Lands and had possibly killed the royal family and subjugated the Pride Lands' non-lion subjects if not giving them a same gruesome fate (since Kion knows that Zira is a lion supremacist, god-forbid what would happen if she ever got near Mtoto, Thurston, or Ajabu), and on the Pride Landers' end, the Lion Guard had been gone for such a long time with no one having any way of knowing they'd return or if they died. So this reunion was likely also a huge relief for everyone in the Pride Lands, especially Simba, Basi, and Timon and Pumbaa (who no doubt would've been scared shitless at the idea that their kid could be missing forever or dead and have no way to confirm or deny that possibility). It's just all around amazing to see. When watching the episode for the first time when it came out I thought something was wrong with my computer because despite there being 14 minutes left, I wholeheartedly thought the series was going to end there....

...which is why I'm very mad that it didn't and forever disappointed at the route they went with for the actual ending.

In the span of less than a full day since the Lion Guard returned from the Tree of Life, all of them instantly want to head back there on a whim after losing the Lion Guard contest, which would wind up in them completely uprooting their lives and leaving their home and families again for the sake of this one kingdom that we've only seen for seven to eight out of 74 episodes plus a TV movie! The reunion showed us that the Guard was strongly attached to their home and families, but now the ending forces us to ignore that to logistify the Guard willingly going to the Tree of Life without any on-screen goodbyes or send-offs. No scene of doubt, no goodbye songs, no parting ways between characters, nothing, it just jump cuts from "Hey, let's go back to the Tree of Life even though we've only been back here for a day" straight to them at the Tree of Life for Kion and Rani's wedding. Isn't the episode's title supposed to be "Return to the Pride Lands?" Yet the "return" plot stops mattering after the first 11 minutes.

The whole Guard leaving with Kion doesn't even make sense: Bunga has Timon and Pumbaa at Hakuna Matata Falls, Beshte has to co-lead the hippo pod with his father, Ono has his flock and possibly even Ona (you could argue that he would want to return to the Tree of Life because they healed him, but that's not the reason they went with - Also the poor dude lost his Mark of the Guard twice, the first being after he lost his eyesight to protect the Pride Lands from Scar, like, what the fuck?), Fuli had been the most admant about returning to the Pride Lands, and Anga showed no interest in staying at the Tree of Life and seemed perfectly ok in the Pride Lands.

Even back in the days where people were theorizing what would happen to the Lion Guard that caused them to be absent in TLK 2, I never saw reason for the whole Guard to leave if Kion ever left, and even then, I never expected any departure to be permanent because it would go against their whole life-style. It feels like they only had them leave like this for the sake of some "twist" that didn't need to be there. And even if they were going to go with this route, they could've had the Guard separate, with some staying and some going to at least make sense.

Much like Makini, Season 3 ignores crucial story elements of the main characters from the first two seasons to both justify their "plot-twist" by the end and to wrap up any “plot-holes” with the Lion King 2 and forces the audience to suspend an inappropriate amount of their disbelief. So while I like the reunion in the final episode and whilst my love for the show remains un-matched, knowing how it all ends and that (according to some writers) it was planned from the start to end like this makes me feel cheated in a way. One of the most disappointing endings I've seen from a show which I've been willing to follow from start to finish and this is coming from someone who's watched both Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Bunk'd.

#the lion guard #Kion #Bunga #Fuli #Beshte #Ono #Anga #The Lion King #Disney jr.#I'm back on my bs again ranting/gushing over the Lion Guard aren't I?#For years I've always questioned the Lion Guard's production especially in Season 3 #Because with so many episodes in Seasons 1 and 2 there's so much that Season 3 retroactively goes against despite being intended as the end #I have a hard time believing that the pitch sold to executives was always “The diverse interspecies Lion Guard is upstaged by lions #...and their long journey home as well as their live-long dedication to the Pride Lands is a bust bc now they are all a part of a lion prid #... so that they can all witness a child marriage between Kion and Rani on our fucking children's show"#At least Bunk'd's “ending” had a sendoff moment between the departing characters despite the season not being worth a fuck #This is.... just awful #rani #lion guard night pride #Pride Lands #Pridelands #the lion guard season 3 #the lion guard rani #the lion guard kion #the lion guard bunga #the lion guard fuli #the lion guard ono #the lion guard beshte #the lion guard anga #critical

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demonsndystopia · 4 months

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He watched as even after he arrived, slayers were still filing in. A small scowl grew over the corners of his lips, but he said nothing. He listened to what few words any of them said; the nothing that was reported from them. A part of him wondered- would they all lose? In the face of the demons… would this be the end?

He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind- Kukan-te. That was a name that was familiar to him, but why, he wasn't sure.

Eyes scanned the meeting once again, reminded to look for those who had been at the frontlines of the last meeting, to atone for sins and whatelse, now only slayers answering for crimes.

"I only see a few of the Sentan- and now, only two of the Orokana. And who else?" his eyes narrowed. "Why are there some missing? Mtoto has spoke for his own, but Sentan…?" he shook his head, hair falling from its half up bind.

"Where are those who are missing? Is there something to be stated that I haven't heard, yet? Why must I request twice?" it was true he'd been given a message- but the details of such he needed to hear in person. At this, it was suddenly becoming clearer, now- why that name sounded so.. familiar.

This wasn't good.

"Come now- share with the rest of the corp what happened during one of your missions, Sentan." and then, he shot a glance towards Orokana. Things were about to connect, and he wasn't happy about it. Find yourself amidst the slayers who are rising to the call and threat of the danger that lurks behind every corner- and find out what happened at this meeting, in... Demons and Dystopia, a literate roleplay server, waiting for YOU. Click to join!

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pwlanier · 11 months

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GEORGE LILANGA (TANZANIAN 1934-2005)

KWANZA ACE MTOTO KISHA NYIE MATA FWATA

signed in English Lilanga lower right; titled KWANZA ACE MTOTO KISHA NYIE MATA FWATA on the reverse

oil on board

Olympia Auctions

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maybeimamuppet · 2 years

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picking teams- chapter 2: cady

hellooooo happy wednesday! omg two chapters in a row who is sheeeeee

in all honesty i just had this one ready to go already, and my birthday was yesterday so i figured i’d give you guys a little present from me :))

i don’t think i need any tw’s for this one but as always if you notice something please let me know so i can add it in !

enjoy!

—————

“Binti!”

“Yeah, Mom?!” Cady calls across the savanna, popping her head out of the watering hole she had been taking a dip in to cool off and scaring away one of the zebras in the process. “Sorry, Zara.”

“Dry off and come inside, please! We need to talk to you,” her mom calls from the ‘door’ of their tent.

“Uh oh,” Cady mutters to herself. She wades over to the shore and sits to talk to a gazelle as she uses her small towel to dry off and tugs her clothes back on. “That can’t be good. How am I in trouble this time?”

The gazelle just honks at her and returns to its snooze. Cady nods.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Hopefully my punishment isn’t picking up the elephant dung again. I’ll see you later, Imani.”

With a quick pat to her friend’s head, she ties the last knot into the laces of her boots and jogs back home.

“Whatever I did, I’m sorry, I’ll be less clumsy,” she begins. Her parents laugh.

“You’re not in trouble, Monkey. We just need to talk to you,” her father says, gesturing for her to sit by them at their ‘table’. It’s actually just an elaborate construction of wooden crates, but they all love their little dinky dining table.

“So you didn’t find out about the…” Cady says, realizing after she begins that she shouldn’t continue.

“About the what?”

“Nothing! Nothing,” Cady says with a sheepish grin. Phew. “So what’s up?”

Her parents lock eyes with each other in concern before looking to her. Her father nods, and her mother begins speaking. “I’ve gotten a new job. We’ll have to move soon.”

“Oh.” Cady says. “Where are we going?”

“Just outside of Chicago,” her father says.

“America?!” Cady squeals excitedly. “We’re moving to America?!”

“Yes,” her mother says. “I thought you’d be upset. We’re sorry to take you from the only home you’ve ever known.”

“Are you kidding?!” Cady laughs. “This is amazing! Maybe I’ll meet an obese person! And-and I can finally try Starbucks, and skateboarding, and real high school! And I won’t have to practice my tumbling in clay and mud anymore, we might have real grass! Or even a real gym!”

“I told you we didn’t have to worry,” her dad mutters to her mother with a small grin. “We leave in a week, so you’ll have a bit of time to say your goodbyes to everything here.”

“Thank you!” Cady squeals, knocking their tiny table over as she pitches herself to hug her parents.

“You’re welcome, Binti. Dinner’s in an hour, go finish your chores,” her mother chuckles, kissing her hairline.

“Okay!” Cady says eagerly. She trips over her feet on her way out the door as she calls for her favorite lions. “Nala, Zuri, Mtoto, guys! I get to go to real school! In America!”

—————

A week later finds her at the airport in Nairobi. She’s managed to fit the last twelve years of her life into one backpack. It hurt more than she expected, having to say goodbye to her animal family and Kenyan home. But she faced it bravely, and now is eager for her next adventure.

She peers out the window as they take off on their very, very long flight to her new home. Her new life. The oranges and browns and greens of the savanna gradually fade away, and soon all she can see is the sky.

Her dad notices how quiet she is from his seat next to her. Of her parents, he’s always been slightly more understanding of her nature. “We found a gym for you near our new place. They have open gyms every Friday afternoon.”

“Really?” Cady asks eagerly. “Will it be like the videos?”

From a very young age, Cady climbed everything she could get her hands on. She’d earned the nickname ‘Monkey’ almost as soon as she could walk. If it could support her weight, she’d be up it in a minute. Even if it couldn’t support her weight, she’d at least give it a go. She learned the hard way that that’s a bad idea.

But in Kenya, climbing things isn’t the safest hobby. Nor is running and rolling everywhere, as a younger Cady was also wont to do. Lots of dangerous predators live both on the ground and up trees, who wouldn’t think twice about making a meal of a rambunctious five year old.

So, to appease Cady’s natural urge to move, but in a safe way, her father had found an old VCR, and some VHS tapes of Olympic gymnasts. Cady got her own special nook of the large tent they called home, and a spotter in the form of one of her parents.

And Cady tumbled.

Over the years, she got better and better at it. She’s always been exceptionally clumsy, but something in her seemed to click when she was flipping or cartwheeling or the like. Her dad always jokes that she walks better on her hands than her feet.

“Better,” he says. “Better than the videos.”

“Really?” Cady asks again. Her dad nods, a knowing twinkle in his eye. Cady grins at him, and it grows when he offers her a piece of their favorite watermelon gum to help with the strange pressure in her ears. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“Anytime, Monkey.”

—————

Cady has an incredible first week in America.

Her house has air conditioning, a marvel she had spent almost a whole day trying to figure out. She finally got her venti chai from Starbucks, and adored it even though it didn’t quite live up to her expectations in terms of the taste. Her dad took her to the gym he had mentioned so she could practice her skills, and she had a great time learning what a trampoline is.

The Wednesday after they arrive is her first day of school.

“Are you sure you have everything, Binti? Your map and schedule? Kälteen bar? Water bottle?” Cady’s mom asks, brushing a non-existent piece of lint from her shoulder.

“Yes, Mom, I double checked everything before we left,” Cady says. “I have to go.”

“Have fun. Call if you can’t handle it and I’ll come get you,” her mother says.

“I will. I love you,” Cady says, giving her mom a tight hug.

“I love you too. Have a good day,” her mom says as she returns her embrace. Cady gives her mom one last squeeze before she sets off through the doors of her first real school.

She goes to the main office first like she was told to. Luckily for her, it’s been labeled with a large sign. “Hello!”

“Hello, how can I help you?” the secretary asks kindly as she hangs up the phone.

“Um, I’m new here,” Cady says, suddenly anxious. “They told me to come here for some things.”

“Ah, yes,” the secretary hums, rooting through some papers on her desk. “Caddy Heron?”

“Uh, it’s Cady,” she replies. The secretary tuts something about ‘modern names’ under her breath and marks the pronunciation down for… someone.

“Alright, here’s your map and schedule if you need a fresh copy,” the secretary says, handing over some papers. “And this is the room number and contact information for the junior activities committee. They handle all the events for your grade. They’ll help show you around and can help you get connected to clubs and things that you’re interested in.”

“Cool!” Cady chirps. “Is that all?”

“Should be. Do you think you can find your classroom on your own?”

“Yep! Thank you!”

Cady sighs and holds her backpack straps as she closes the door behind her. Time for my next adventure.

—-

The next adventure turns out to be finding the right classroom. The numbering system is so strange. She winds up in the English wing when she’s supposed to be in the math wing, and is almost running to make it where she’s meant to be on time.

And then it turns out she’s not supposed to be in the math wing at all. Homeroom is after first period. Who came up with that?

Her homeroom teacher helpfully gives her some navigation pointers to get to her study hall. Cady looks at her schedule as she runs and sees that she also has her for math. How nice.

Cady slides into the only empty seat left and rests her head on her desk. What a day, she thinks. And it’s only first period.

—-

She continues stumbling around like a baby giraffe until lunch. She’s barely managed to scrape into classes on time so far, since people keep shoving her around in the hallways like some sadistic pinball machine and she doesn’t even know where she’s going in the first place. This place is more like the jungle than the actual jungle.

“Wait, why don’t I know you?” a high, falsely sweet voice rings out as Cady makes her way across the cafeteria looking for a place to sit.

“Me?” Cady asks, freezing in place and pointing to herself. She finds herself face to face with a leggy blonde in a very expensive pink outfit, looking at her almost the way one looks at a cute animal. The blonde nods slightly as if to say, duh. “O-oh, I’m new here. I was homeschooled before.”

“You’re, like, really pretty,” the blonde continues, standing and stalking over to observe Cady from multiple angles.

“Thank you?” Cady says. What the fuck do I do how do I talk to people oh god. “I-“

“So you agree?”

“Huh?”

“You think you’re really pretty?”

“Oh, no! No, I-“

“You’re really gonna get noticed around here,” the blonde says. “You need good friends. You should totally sit with us.”

“Really?” Cady asks shyly, trying not to let on how relieved she is. Finally, some decent humans.

“Totally!” one of the other girls at her table says, hopping up to join the blonde. “But you have to know the rules if you’re gonna sit with us. You can’t wear a tank top more than two days in a row, and you can only wear sweatpants or track pants on Fridays. You can only wear your hair in a ponytail once a week, and-“

“On Wednesdays we wear pink!” the other girl says, gesturing to her clothes. “But you’re, like, panic emoji, totally new, so it’s okay for today.”

“O-okay,” Cady says, pulling her peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of her bag and shyly sitting down across from them. “Um…”

“What?” the blonde hums.

“What are your names?”

“Oh my god, of course!” the brunette one says. “That’s Regina, she’s, like, the queen of the school. You’re so lucky she invited you to sit with us.”

Cady nods, like she’s still trying to convince herself of that.

“I’m Gretchen, Regina’s best friend. I’m basically her second in command,” Gretchen continues. “And that’s Karen.”

“My teeth are shiny!” Karen chirps happily. Cady nods kindly. So, apex predator, beta, and… here for her own protection. Got it.

“I’m Cady,” she says. She notices the stack of papers Regina has next to her. “What are those?”

“Oh, these? Just some dumb flyers we have to put up around school for cheer tryouts tonight,” Regina sighs. “But that’s, like, way too much walking, so I’m just gonna make one of the boys do it for me.”

“What’s… cheer?” Cady asks in confusion. All three of the girls turn and gape at her.

“You don’t know? How homeschooled were you?” Gretchen asks in shock.

“Uh… very,” Cady says. “I’m from Kenya.”

“Shut up,” Regina says with something akin to awe. “Shut up!”

“I… didn’t say anything,” Cady says sheepishly. Gretchen suddenly shoves her phone in front of Cady’s face, somehow already having found a video of this ‘cheer’ to show her. Cady watches eagerly. “Oh, so it’s like gymnastics! That’s fun!”

“Better,” Karen says. “It’s better than gymnastics. Because we get pompoms.”

“Pompoms are those sparkly things in their hands,” Gretchen explains kindly. Cady nods.

“Cool! Can… what does try out mean?” she asks.

“It means you try out,” Regina tuts. “For the squad. Come show some basic tumbling and cheering and stuff and see if you have what it takes. Duh.”

“Oh,” Cady nods. “Can I try out?”

“Of course! Regina is cheer captain, and Karen and I are both on the varsity squad. If you make it on the squad too that would be, like, totally perfect!” Gretchen says eagerly.

“No promises, though, Cady,” Regina says. “If you don’t have the skills, I can’t let you on. It’s, like, the rules for all of us.”

“I understand,” Cady says, nodding boldly. “Can I have one of those, please?”

Gretchen reaches across the table to the stack to grab her a flyer, since Regina makes no move to hand her one. Cady takes it with a thank you and pulls out her phone to text her mom.

monkey: Hi mommy!

mama lion: Hello, binti. Is everything okay? Do you need picked up?

monkey: No, I’m fine! But can I stay after school today?

mama lion: Why?

monkey: I made some new friends! They do something called cheerleading and I want to try out too!!

mama lion: Oh, of course. Do you need better clothes?

monkey: No, I can move pretty well in this stuff, I think I’ll be okay. Love you!

mama lion: I love you too, binti. Text when you’re ready for me to come get you.

monkey: Okay! Bye!

“Okay, my mom says I can go,” Cady says. “But I’ve never done anything but gymnastics before.”

“You did gymnastics in Asia?” Karen asks in awe.

“Africa,” Cady corrects gently. “And yeah. I didn’t have teachers or anything, but I taught myself some stuff. And my parents helped a lot.”

“Aww, how sweet, your mommy and daddy helped you?” Regina titters.

“Mmhmm!” Cady says eagerly. “I even got my own-“

“That’s great. 120 calories and forty-eight calories from fat, what percent is that?”

“Forty-eight into 120?” Gretchen confirms anxiously, flipping to the calculator on her phone.

“There’s no way of knowing,” Karen replies, as if she’s some sort of not quite all-knowing deity.

“I’m only eating foods with less than thirty percent calories from fat!” Regina huffs.

“It’s forty percent,” Cady pipes up. “You just put forty-eight over 120 and then x over a hundred and cross multiply.”

All three of them blink at her in shock. Regina is the first to snap out of it with a, “Whatever, I’m getting cheese fries.”

“Yooo, Africa, those fractions were tight,” a voice says, looming behind her. Cady whirls around to see a boy from her homeroom. What was his name? Karl? “Kevin G. I’m team captain for the North Shore Mathletes. You should think about joining. Ms. Norbury says we’d get more funding if we had a girl on the team, and we really want to get jackets.”

“That sounds co-“ Cady begins to say, getting interrupted by Regina returning with her cheese fries.

“Ew, why is he by our table?”

“I’m right here. I can hear you,” Kevin huffs.

“Can you hear me now?” Regina hums haughtily, kissing her fingertips and waving them in his general direction with a whispered, “Bye.”

“Think about it, Africa. Jackets,” Kevin says as he heads back to his own table.

Cady is floored. Regina totally chewed up that boy to protect her, without hesitation. Whoa.

She knows now what she has to do. She’s found the apex predator of North Shore High. Stay in Regina’s good graces, and she has full protection for the rest of her school career. No more being pushed around in the hallways, no more almost eating lunch in the bathroom, no more teasing.

The only way to stay in Regina’s good graces?

Observe, and adapt. Fit in at any cost. Whatever it takes.

monkey: Do you think we can go shopping when you pick me up?

————-

After school, Cady stumbles her way to the gym, frantically checking her map and only getting horrifically lost once on her way. A tall, almost scary looking girl with half-blonde hair helpfully points her in the right direction, seeming to notice the wide-eyed look of fright on her face.

With mystery girl’s help, she manages to make it to the gym on time for tryouts. She wanders over to a crowd of people; mostly girls, but with a few boys scattered in.

“Cady! Over here,” Gretchen calls, waving her over to their group on the bleachers. She’s now clad in workout clothes, instead of the tight pink top and mini-skirt she had on at lunch. “Is… is that what you’re wearing to try out in?”

“Yeah?” Cady shrugs, looking down at her cargo shorts and flannel. “It’s what I wore all the time in Kenya, even to practice in. I don’t see why it’d be different here.”

“…Fun!” Gretchen chirps hesitantly. “Here, I’ll watch your stuff for you. Go get your number from Regina.”

“Thanks, Gretchen,” Cady replies thankfully, heading to the table Regina and a lady she doesn’t recognize are sitting behind. “Hey, Regina.”

“Hm?” Regina hums, not looking up from her phone. Finally, after tapping away for a good while, she glances up. “Oh, hey Cady. Good luck.”

“Thanks!” Cady chirps, sticking her number to her hip and heading back to Gretchen and Karen.

“So, usually tryouts start with, like, basic dancing and cheering and stuff,” Gretchen explains helpfully. She continues explaining, in great detail, everything Cady can expect from tryouts. Cady can barely keep up, she talks so fast, but she’s still thankful to have a friend to give her a heads up.

Once all the numbers have been taken from the table, the lady Regina was sitting with blasts a very loud whistle and calls them off the bleachers to spread out around the gym.

“Alright, ladies and gents, listen up! I’m head coach, Regina here is team captain, and our assistant coach had to go get her kid from daycare because of a lice outbreak so she’s not here. If you make the squad you’ll meet her later,” she begins. “We’re gonna start with some basic choreo and cheering! Follow Regina as best you can, and if we call your number, leave.”

Bit harsh, Cady thinks. She jumps as some loud music starts blaring over the loudspeakers, but tries to snap back to attention as Regina starts moving in the front row.

She follows along as best she can, but she stumbles a few times and is late on a few moves. She can practically feel the coach’s eyes boring into her, scrutinizing every move to see if she has what it takes.

Numbers are called off in small groups as they keep going. Cady has to strain to listen over the cheering the whole group is doing, and checks her own number in a panic every single time.

But, somehow, she makes it through that round. She can tell that she’s on thin ice, however.

The coach blasts her whistle again when the song ends, and they all head up to the front again to listen for the next instructions.

“Okay, nicely done! If you’re still here, we think you have good potential in that regard,” she yells, even though they’re directly in front of her and could hear her perfectly fine. “Next up! If any of you have any gymnastics, tumbling or previous cheer experience, go sit on the bleachers for now! Those of you who don’t, we want to see what you can do based on instinct!”

Cady heads back to the bleachers with Gretchen and Karen, facing them as they face the gym. She snatches her water bottle out of the pocket on the side of her backpack and sucks down as much of it as she can in one go.

“Holy cow,” she gasps after she pulls back. “That was… a lot of work.”

“Just wait,” Gretchen chuckles, almost ominously. “Tumbling and stunting are up next.”

“But tumbling is easy,” Cady says in confusion. She shrugs and rests her head in her hands as her arms are folded on the gross seats above her.

She barely gets to catch her breath before the first crowd of tumblers is done, sufficiently weeded through to find those with enough skill to move on.

“Alright, those of you with experience, you’re up! We’re just looking for basic know-how, some general skills. We’ll work on form and more specific stuff as the season goes. Number twenty-seven, you’re up first!”

Nobody moves for a moment. Until Cady looks down at her number. Twenty-seven. “Oh!”

She kicks off her sandals, having learned from experience that tumbling in them does not end well. A few steps on the ground help her assess the material. Hard wood, covered in lacquer. Slippery, not as much give as she’s used to, but also means she won’t sink in as much. She won’t need quite as much force, but she’ll have to mind her form and footing.

Next, she sees how much room she has to work with. The gym is about 105 feet long… if she’s careful, she can do all of her favorite tricks and then some.

With a deep breath, she begins. Roundoffs, back handsprings, cartwheels, flips, everything she can think to do. She keeps her eyes on the far wall, and ends with an almost perfectly stuck landing when she gets too close for comfort.

She pants for breath and turns to the crowd.

Dead silence.

Some people’s mouths are even hanging open, and everyone is staring at her.

Embarrassed, she slowly shuffles back over and goes to whisper to Gretchen. “Was it that bad? Everyone’s staring. I knew my form was off, and I didn’t stick it, but the floor was different. I didn’t think-“

“Cady, are you kidding?!” Gretchen says, almost in awe. “That was incredible! Nobody’s, like, ever tumbled like that before. You didn’t even use the mat!”

“Oh,” Cady replies. “Wait, I did good?”

“You did great,” Karen says, remarkably comfortingly.

“Oh. Thanks,” Cady says sheepishly.

“Alright, uh…” Coach says after another blast of her whistle. “Very well done, twenty-seven, but for the rest of you, please stick to the mat! You’re all a legal liability otherwise!”

Oops, Cady thinks to herself, shrinking in on herself sheepishly and heading to drink more of her water.

A tall, kind looking boy heads over to her after his turn. “Hey.”

“Hey-hey me?” Cady asks nervously, pointing to herself.

“Yeah, hey you,” the boy chuckles. “Sorry. I’m Damian. I just wanted to say you were… fucking amazing just now.”

“Oh! Thanks!” Cady chirps. “I’m Cady. Cady Heron.”

“Nice to meet you, Cady Heron,” Damian replies, holding a hand to shake. Cady takes it with a smile. “So how long have you been cheering?”

“Today,” Cady replies. Damian gapes at her. “I’ve been homeschooled until… today. So I never had the opportunity until now. But I’ve been tumbling since I was three or four, I think.”

“It shows,” Damian says. “So where are you from? I haven’t seen you around town.”

“Kenya,” Cady replies. Damian chokes on air, making Cady look at him in concern. “Are you okay?”

“Fine, fine!” he coughs. “Sorry. Just wasn’t expecting that.”

“Most people aren’t,” Cady giggles. “My parents are zoologists, we moved there when I was little to study wildlife. But my mom got a new job, so we moved back here a week ago.”

“Only a week? You poor thing, being subjected to North Shore so soon,” Damian hums sadly. “Have you found any friends yet? I’m co-chair for the junior activities committee, I can help you. I mean, you’re already here, so good job there, but, like, if you need help elsewhere. I’m your man.”

“I think I’m okay, but thanks,” Cady replies gratefully. “I found some girls at lunch and they seem really nice!”

“Regina, right?” Damian asks. Cady nods. “Be careful around her. She’s not as she seems.”

“What do you mean?” Cady asks in concern.

“Nothing,” Damian says quickly. “Just… watch yourself.”

“Okay…” Cady says in confusion. “Oh, wait! You’re in my French class, I remember you now! You’re the one who wanted to go by Chanel!”

“Guilty as charged,” Damian chuckles, seeming almost too proud of himself. He looks down at the crowd, and his demeanor suddenly changes again. “Uh, I gotta go. Nice meeting you!”

He’s gone before Cady can even say, “Bye.” leaving her blinking at the empty spot next to her in confusion. What was that all about?

Cady looks back to the gym and watches the other people tumble. She claps politely for everyone when they finish, earning herself some strange looks. She doesn’t care, and cheers extra loud for Gretchen and Karen.

It takes a fair bit, but eventually, everyone has shown their tumbling skills. Cady listens intently as more numbers are dismissed, but her number never comes.

Up next is stunting. Cady gets grouped up with Gretchen and Karen. She’s the smallest of them by a notable amount, so she’s told she’ll be something called a flyer. Of course, she has absolutely no idea what that means.

A few other groups go before them, allowing her to learn that she’ll be the one being thrown in the air. And just barely caught. Great.

Their group is led onto a stack of thick, cushy mats when it’s their turn. Cady is thankful for their presence. She may be good at tumbling, but heights aren’t totally her deal. You climbed Kilimanjaro, she reminds herself. You can do this.

Hesitantly, she relaxes in the grip of her teammates and braces as she’s thrown up in the air. She can feel her hair flowing behind her as she flexes her muscles and forces herself upright.

Karen and Gretchen each grab one of her feet, looking at her carefully to help her maintain her balance. Cady takes another deep breath as they hoist her up over their heads and hold her there, striking a few poses she had seen some of the others do.

After a few seconds, she’s tossed again, and lies herself back to horizontal to be caught in a cradle and gently lowered back to the ground.

“Nicely done,” the coach says, gesturing for the group to head back to the bleachers and wait, yet again.

“That was terrifying,” Cady mumbles shakily as she drinks more of her water.

“You get used to it,” Gretchen replies, almost a huff. Cady blinks in confusion.

“Did-did I do something?”

“No,” Gretchen replies through grit teeth. “I’m… just usually the flyer. I’m not used to being a base.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Cady replies sadly.

“Just leave it, it’s fine,” Gretchen sighs. Karen rubs her back comfortingly as they watch the other groups go. Cady isn’t totally sure what to do, and just sits behind them to watch in silence.

—-

Before too much longer, there’s only a few people left in the room. The coach and Regina spend a very, very long time talking in hushed tones, presumably about who made the cut and where to assign everyone. Everyone waits patiently, some in silence, and some chattering nervously with their friends.

Eventually, the coach heads back over to their group and gives a blast of her whistle. “When I call your number, come down to see us, we’ll tell you if you made the squad and what to do from there.”

“Yes, coach,” everyone replies. Cady doesn’t, having barely been paying attention. She wasn’t expecting to be so nervous, but she hardly gets out a, “Wait, what?”

Gretchen is called up first, and Cady watches anxiously for her new friend’s reaction. Judging by her smile and repeated thanks, she got what she was hoping for. Cady gives her two thumbs up and a wide smile, which Gretchen returns with slightly less enthusiasm.

Karen also makes it, along with Damian, the boy Cady had talked to for a while earlier. Several other girls also seem to make the squad and run out of the room with varying degrees of excitement. Others don’t, and dejectedly shuffle away.

Cady gets nervous as the time goes on and her number is never called. Surely there can’t be that many spots on the squad. What if she wasn’t actually good enough?

Finally, she’s the only one left in the room, and the coach calls her number. Anxiously, she heads down to the table. Regina and the coach both look quite grim.

But suddenly, the coach’s face splits into a wide grin and she gives Cady a rather aggressive congratulatory clap on the shoulder. Cady tries to hide her wince and massage the pain away covertly.

“Congratulations, you made varsity,” Regina says as if this is the most boring news in all of history. “You’ll be our head flyer, you’re kind of head of the show. Besides me, of course. You’ll be doing a lot of tumbling and stunting.”

“Great,” Cady says, sighing internally. Not more stunting. She tries to sound more genuine when she says, “Thank you so much.”

“Mmhmm,” Regina sighs. “You have to work on your face.”

“What?”

“Your face. You don’t look happy,” Regina explains. “While you’re cheering, and especially while you’re stunting.”

“I wasn’t, I was terrified,” Cady replies.

“Don’t let the crowds see that. Work on keeping a smile and high energy,” the coach says kindly. “Here’s the order form for your uniform and everything you’ll need for the season, you’re free to go. Congratulations again.”

“Thank you,” Cady says, taking the paper and going to get her things. She waits until she’s out of sight and earshot before she does a little happy dance. “I made the squad!”

She goes running out to the parking lot of the building and to her mom’s car, where she’s waiting to pick her up. “Hi, Binti, how was your day?”

“Awesome! My classes are all really great, and I found some people who aren’t mean to me,” Cady bursts out rapidly, getting the whole sentence out in one breath. Her mother struggles to keep up, but does seem to register everything she says. “And I made the cheer team! I’m the… head flyer? But look, here’s the order form! I get a whole uniform and everything!”

“How wonderful,” her mother hums, taking the form and looking it over with the same critical eye she uses for her work samples.

“What?” Cady asks, knowing her tone.

“Nothing. I’m proud of you, Monkey,” her mother says. Cady beams. It’s rare to hear that particular nickname from her.

“Thanks, mom.”

“Just one thing,” her mother says. Cady nods.

“Yes?”

“Where are your shoes?”

“Ah, shuck!”

—————

hope you enjoyed!!

just a note, i am still working on oneshots! if you’ve given me a request and i’ve accepted it i am working on it, my motivation just went here for the time being. but the oneshots will be finished as soon as i can manage and published alongside these chapters :)

have a great day!

lots of love,

ezzy

#cadnis #paint by numbers #space safari #cady heron x janis sarkisian #cady x janis #cady heron #janis sarkisian #damian hubbard #mean girls #mean girls musical #mean girls broadway #mean girls the musical #mean girls on broadway #picking teams

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